Questions tagged [deuteronomy]
Fifth book of the Torah
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Why isn't Tefillin stressed more spiritually than physically
The Torah says in Deuteronomy 6:8 "וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ׃
" but why is the main emphasis in our culture nowadays about the physical Tefillin?...
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The sages quoting the word of Hashem outside of Tanach
There are so many examples of this but here is one, Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 2:6 it says towards the end:
Rebbi Simeon ben Ioḥai stated: The book Deuteronomy ascended, bowed down before the Holy ...
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Why is Deuteronomy 32:51 in the plural?
Why is Deuteronomy 32:51 in the plural?:
מח וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לֵאמֹר.
48 And the LORD spoke unto Moses that selfsame day, saying:
מט עֲלֵה אֶל-הַר הָעֲבָרִים ...
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Inserting other mitzvot between loan-related commandments
In Berakhot 21b we learn that even those, who don't interpret the juxtaposition of different verses in the first four books of the Torah, they do so in the Book of Deuteronomy, because – as Ritva ...
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Why in Deuteronomy does Moses introduce 200 new Mitzvot?
The Book of Numbers concludes the Torah narrative from the creation, through the Exodus, the Receiving of the Torah, the 40 years of the wilderness to make the Exodus generation go extinct, up to the ...
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Is "God of your ancestors will increase your numbers a thousandfold" considered prophecy?
In Deut 1.11 Moses says: "יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵכֶם יֹסֵף עֲלֵיכֶם כָּכֶם אֶלֶף פְּעָמִים וִיבָרֵךְ אֶתְכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָכֶם׃". I don't understand what it the "status" of ...
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Why do secularists believe Deuteronomy was written during the reign of King Josiah? [closed]
While we're at it, why do they believe it was written by many different sources? I am reading the book JEWS, GOD, AND HISTORY by Max Dimont where he goes into greater detail about this. Also, what are ...
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Adult circumcision vs Torah prohibition "Lo Yosif" - not to inflict a wound upon yourself (Deuteronomy 25:3)
I understand that uncircumcised adult men who wish to convert to Judaism must have a circumcision to become Jewish.
My question is, how this is reconciled with the Torah prohibition of "Lo Yosif&...
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Deuteronomy 31:12 - convert or a Noahide?
I am confused with Deuteronomy 31:12: "the foreigners residing in your towns" this refers to non-Israelites who are living among the Israelites. In Hebrew it's "gerim" (singular: &...
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How am I to understand this passage "13: He made them ride upon the high places of the earth"
In Parshat Ha'azinu, 3rd Portion (Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32:13-32:18)
It is written
"13 He made them ride upon the high places of the earth"
But if you create a simple search in google you'll ...
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Parshiot Devarim referring to mashiach
Where does the vilna gaon say that the parshiot of devarim are a remez to the last generations of before mashiach?
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The second Brit - Parashat Ki Tavo - three set of stones? (Rashi)
I am little confused trying to understand a Rashi. To Devarim 27:2, Rashi explains that there are three "memorial stones" of this ratification of the Brit between Israel and G-d. I don't see ...
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Moses referred in Third Person
We know that the Book of Deuteronomy is Moses' recounting of the Torah, yet in some places Moses is referred to in the third person, such as Parsha Ki Tavo in Deuteronomy 29:1
Why are there instances ...
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What was Plan A for the Luchos?
In Devarim we see that the Aron was made for the purpose of storing the Luchos, but those were for the 2nd Luchos (after Moshe broke the first ones). My question is what was Plan A? Meaning when Moshe ...
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Getting close to G-d by studying sefer Devarim
Rav Elimelech Biderman (Torah Wellsprings, parashas Devarim - Tishah B'av 2017, p. 16) quotes the Kotzker Rebbe and says that whoever studies sefer Devarim, becomes close(r) to Hashem.
"Even a ...
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What is the logic of "You shall not abhor an Egyptian, for you were a stranger in that land."
What is the logic of the reason given in Deut 23:8, "You shall not abhor an Egyptian, for you were a stranger in that land." How does the Israelites living for a while as welcome (and then ...
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What was the "kur ha'barzel" aspect of galus Mitzrayim and was it effective?
In Sefer Devarim 4:20 it says:
וְאֶתְכֶם֙ לָקַ֣ח יְהוָ֔ה וַיּוֹצִ֥א אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִכּ֥וּר הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל
מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם לִהְי֥וֹת ל֛וֹ לְעַ֥ם נַחֲלָ֖ה כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
but you יהוה took and brought out of ...
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Definition of "witness" for purposes of Devarim 19:15
According to Devarim 19:15, conviction requires two or three witnesses. To be a witness, what must an individual have "seen" or "known" per Vayikra 5:1? Would they need to see or ...
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Reference for a quote from the Maharal about how man is an upside-down tree
I have read the fascinating idea expressed by the Maharal commenting on Deuteronomy 20:19 about the similarities and contrasts between a man and a tree. In particular: A tree's roots are below, and it ...
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Are there any exceptions to the two-witness rule in Devarim 19:15?
What role, if any, should circumstantial evidence play in halachic courts dealing with criminal matters? Are there ever any exceptions to the requirement of two witnesses to convict someone of a crime?...
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Is poverty a human consequence or from above?
How to understand Deuteronomy 15:11. Is it a statement of human relationships and conventions or a spiritual statement? If it is the second, it raises a very thorny question, it kind of creates or ...
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Is "these words" in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 referring to the Shema, or the whole book?
When Deuteronomy 6:6 commands that "these words" should be displayed, remembered, and obeyed, is the phrase referring to the Shema, or is "these words" referring to the whole book? ...
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What about hidden things?
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 29:29
What would these hidden ...
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Bris Milah vs Bris Periah and Deuteronomy 4
Full disclosure I am not Jewish. This is (it sadly needs to be said) not meant to be anti-Semitic in any way, shape or form, but it's an honest question. I am not that familiar with the Talmud or oral ...
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Has HKBH promised an increase in wealth to one who does Torah?
I was reading the blessings and curses in parshat Ki Savo and came away with the impression that the blessing is on the things that we already have, our lot, rather than being an increase in what we ...
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Rashi in Devarim 27:24
In Parshes Ki Savo Perak 27 Pasik 24 Rashisays
מכה רעהו בסתר. עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע הוּא אוֹמֵר; רָאִיתִי בִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן — י"א אֲרוּרִים יֵשׁ כָּאן כְּנֶגֶד י"א ...
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Who wrote the "Malbim" on the end of Devarim?
At the end of the Malbim's commentary to Devarim 22:21, there is a note which says:
{מכאן עד סדר נצבים לא מצאנו באמתחת כתבי יד הגאון המחבר ז״ל וחבל על דאבדין. אמנם אנחנו קבצנו ובארנו על פי דרכו אשר ...
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Were the *meraglim* also the *nesi'im*?
The meraglim were each chosen to represent each tribe. Why wouldn't the nasi of each tribe be the representative, as they were during the consecration of the Mishqan?
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Rashi on Devarim 6:8 - Why does the Torah use a foreign language?
In Devarim 6:8 Rashi says, והיו לטטפת בין עיניך: אלו תפילין שבראש ועל שם מנין פרשיותיהם נקראו טטפת. טט בכתפי שתים, פת באפריקי שתים:
Rashi's English translation is:
and they shall be for ornaments ...
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How was the cow with broken neck disposed of? Deuteronomy 21
About the cow with the broken neck in Deut 21, I can't find out what happened to the cow after the ritual was completed.
Was the cow
given as a gift to the family of the victim, so they could eat it?
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Does Deuteronomy 22:1-3 apply to stray pets (e.g., dogs)?
Deuteronomy 22:1-3 teaches that if you come across your brother's lost ox, sheep, donkey, cloak, etc., you must return it, even if you do not know the one who owns it. Does this mean that if I see a ...
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Devarim 20: division of roles
Devarim 20:1-9 is a list of instructions that must be given orally to soldiers before setting out to battle. Rashi (on verse 8) explains that a priest says the words in verses 3-4, and that they also ...
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The weird example of a woman seizing a man him by his genitals
"If two men get into a fight with each other, and the wife of one comes up to save her husband from his antagonist and puts out her hand and seizes him by his genitals, you shall cut off her hand;...
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Why use different adjectives in Devarim 9:1 and Devarim 9:14?
א שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַתָּה עֹבֵר הַיּוֹם אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן, לָבֹא לָרֶשֶׁת גּוֹיִם גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים מִמֶּךָּ--עָרִים גְּדֹלֹת וּבְצֻרֹת, בַּשָּׁמָיִם
Deutoronomy 9:1
Hear, O Israel: thou art to ...
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Can I be condemned only by my thoughts? (without doing any bad deed) [duplicate]
Can I be condemned only by my thoughts? (without doing any bad deed)
Note: This question is related to another question on this site
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Can G-d read our minds?
In Devarim 8:2 it is written G-d test us in order to know what is in our hearts, so G-d uses an non-direct way to know what is in our hearts. Can G-d read our minds?
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Why are 2 Shevatim missing a Vav
In Devarim 27:12-13
אֵ֠לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֞וּ לְבָרֵ֤ךְ אֶת־הָעָם֙ עַל־הַ֣ר גְּרִזִ֔ים בְּעׇבְרְכֶ֖ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן שִׁמְעוֹן֙ וְלֵוִ֣י וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר וְיוֹסֵ֥ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃
וְאֵ֛לֶּה ...
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Conversion and Devarim 23:8-9
Shalom.
I am a little confused by what appears to me to be a discrepancy between the halakha concerning gerus and Devarim 23:8-9.
The latter verse states that ‘Children born to [Edomites and ...
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Why Shemot 20:11 (4th commandment) refers to Bereshit's history of six days earth creation and Devarim 5:15 doesn't refer to it?
Why Shemot 20:11 refers to Bereshit's history of six days earth creation and Devarim 5:15 doesn't refer to it?
In Shemot it refers to Bereshit's history of six days of creation,and in Devarim 5:15 it ...
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What is meant by the ‘madness’ mentioned in Devarim 28:28?
Devarim 28:28:
‘Hashem will strike you with madness, blindness and dismay.’ (NJPS rendering)
What is meant by madness here? Is it recommended that one rely on the modern discipline of psychiatry and ...
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How can we explain these two pesukim?
In Tehillim 115:6 it is written:
הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם שָׁ֭מַיִם לַה וְ֝הָאָ֗רֶץ נָתַ֥ן לִבְנֵי־אָדָֽם
Translation: “The heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He gave over to man.” (Source: Sefaria)
In ...
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Why "Snir" in Yechezkel 27:5?
In Devarim 3:9 it says that the Tzidonim would call Mt. Chermon "Sirion" and the Amorim would call it "Snir". However, when Yechezkel laments the fall of Tzor, which is in Tzidon, ...
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Did Yehoshua violate a Torah prohibition?
Devarim 4:2 states:
לֹ֣א תֹסִ֗פוּ עַל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָנֹכִי֙ מְצַוֶּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִגְרְע֖וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ
Yet according to one Talmudic opinion (Bava Batra 15a), Yehoshua added the verses ...
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Based on mitzvot in Exodus 12:22 and Deuteronomy 6:9 - Was HaDam sprinkled on Mezuzot inscriptions?
Based on mitzvot in Exodus 12:22 and Deuteronomy 6:9 - Was HaDam sprinkled on Mezuzot inscriptions?
Exodus 12:22
"Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply some ...
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Devarim 17:18 What was included in the king's “copy of this law”?
And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites.
What exactly was the king ...
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Does the prohibition from Devarim 22:11 relate to קַ֔יִן Qayin and הֶ֨בֶל Hevel?
Does the prohibition לֹ֤א תִלְבַּשׁ֙ שַֽׁעַטְנֵ֔ז צֶ֥מֶר וּפִשְׁתִּ֖ים יַחְדָּֽו from Devarim 22:11 relate to קַ֔יִן Qayin and הֶ֨בֶל Hevel?
What sources (besides the two provided) validate this ...
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Mishneh Kesef on the heifer with the broken neck
In Rabbi Kaspi’s commentary on Deuteronomy 21:1, he refers to ‘the teacher’ as having already given a reason for the commandment. Who is this teacher and where did s/he give their reason? Thanks.
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Was Devarim 32:1-43 a Duet sung by Moshe & Yehoshua?
Was Devarim 32:1-43 a Duet sung by Moshe & Yehoshua?
After reading verses 1-43, we learn in Deuteronomy 32:44 [MT]:
וַיָּבֹ֣א משֶׁ֗ה וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַשִּׁירָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את ...
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Should the blood of the Olah be burned or poured out?
Shalom. I’ve just noticed that Devarim 12:27 says that the blood of the Olah should be burnt on the altar. However Vayikra 1:5 says that the blood should be dashed against all sides of the altar. Has ...
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Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it
In Deuteronomy 16:2 it says one has to slaughter the passover sacrifice from the flock AND herd.
Then in verse 3 it says: “You shall not eat anything leavened with it; for seven days you shall eat ...
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